You can’t always rely on your IT provider, managed services provider or in-house IT support team to implement the best cybersecurity practices at the workplace. You are personally responsible for your own cybersecurity and, by extension, the safety and security of other network users. Here are 5 personal cybersecurity tips to prevent you from becoming a victim of hacking.
Guard Your PII
PII or Personal Identifiable Information is any information that hackers can use to identify or locate you. This includes your address, phone numbers, date of birth, IP address, location and any other sensitive digital information. Don’t share PPI on social media and don’t send it via email. Review the privacy settings on all your accounts.
Phishing Scams
Don’t open suspicious emails or download unknown attachments. These attachments often contain malware or ransomware. Phishing email accounts for 90%of all ransomware attacks. Phishing emails also tempt you to input your PPI – don’t do this!
Don’t Use Wi-Fi
Ell you can use Wi-Fi, just don’t use public Wi-Fi without using a Virtual Private Network or VPN. The traffic between your device and the VPN server is encrypted and this means that it is very difficult for cybercriminals to gain access to it.
Use These Mobile Device Tips
- Use a complex mobile password
- Only install trusted apps
- Don’t send PII over email or text
- Backup using Cloud or Android cloud services
Passwords
Use strong passwords that you change regularly. Don’t use the same password twice or for more than one account. Reset or password when you forget it. Choose something that is easy to remember and never leave a password hint out in the open or make it publicly available for hackers to see.
